After nearly a year of searching, Cape Breton father says he's found remains of missing son

Anjuli Patil · CBC News

· Posted: May 28, 2025 2:56 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Human remains recovered Monday in a agrarian country southbound of Sydney, N.S., are those of Justin MacDonald, said the missing man's father, whose tireless hunt for his lad ended 2 days agone erstwhile helium came crossed a familiar-looking garment and sandal.

Ken MacDonald told CBC News in an interrogation helium and different antheral were retired searching connected Morley Road astir 5 p.m. erstwhile they spotted the items that matched ones belonging to the 34-year-old man. A skull was besides found.

While constabulary and the aesculapian examiner person not yet identified the remains, MacDonald said he's assured "we recovered our son."

"Right now it's unofficial, but I got truthful galore radical down us, truthful galore radical who supported america and truthful galore missing radical retired determination successful the world, I wanted them to cognize [on] Monday night, aft searching 322 days ... we're bringing Justin home," helium said.

Since his son's disappearance past year, MacDonald has been searching continuously and posting connected societal media asking the nationalist for accusation that could pb to answers.

Justin MacDonald was past seen connected July 7, 2024, astir 11 p.m. section clip astatine the Irving state presumption successful North Sydney, wherever helium appeared connected the store's information camera. His conveyance was found about 25 kilometres distant successful the Ormond Crescent country of Mira Road.

Police said successful November they considered his lawsuit a homicide, though his remains had not been found. Three people were charged successful the case the pursuing month.

Ken MacDonald said his "emotions took over" erstwhile helium recovered his son's remains, and helium called constabulary close away.

Investigators person been connected the country since Monday, and a drone could beryllium seen flying implicit the country Tuesday. Police person asked the nationalist to enactment distant from the country portion they transportation retired their investigation.

MacDonald said his son's bracelet was aboriginal recovered astatine the site. It's a unsocial bracelet talented from a bully person with 1 broadside reading, "Everything's Gonna Be Alright."

"So without their [police] verification, we cognize 100 per cent," helium said.

MacDonald said stopping the hunt was ne'er an option, contempt snowfall and rainfall that threatened to hamper efforts. He said members of the assemblage who volunteered to assistance were retired looking each day, from 1 extremity of Cape Breton to the other, pursuing up connected each lead.

MacDonald said the household present has to hold to perceive backmost from the aesculapian examiner's serviceman to get the authoritative recognition of the remains. Once that comes, MacDonald said they volition program a ceremonial service.

Police said Wednesday successful an email there was no further update.

The cases of the 3 radical charged successful transportation with Justin MacDonald's decease and disappearance remain earlier the court.

Aaron Curtis Mickey, 45, has been charged with second-degree murder, robbery and 4 firearm-related offences. His co-accused, Ryan Joseph Pike, also faces charges of second-degree execution and robbery.

A 3rd accused, Mitchell George McPhee, 38, is charged with manslaughter successful MacDonald's disappearance and with the robbery and battle of different man.

Ken MacDonald said Wednesday it's been "a agelong road" to get to this point, noting the past twelvemonth has been afloat of "so galore stories and truthful galore rumours."

His lad would person turned 35 this Saturday, helium said.

"It's emotionally draining and it's blessed to a constituent that we'll present beryllium capable to person a funeral. Before that, we ne'er had that chance," helium said.

"We're bringing him home, we are bringing him home."